Relaying Data in a Communication System

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to communication of data in a wireless communication system that enables relaying of data between an originating node ( 3 ) and a destined node ( 1 ). In the arrangement information of a radio resource allocated to the destined node is provided where after communications on the allocated resource are monitored. Relaying of data between the originating node ( 3 ) and the destined node ( 1 ) is controlled based on the monitoring.

This disclosure relates to relaying of data in a communication systemand in particular to relaying of data between communication entities,for example between a base station and a user communication device, of acommunication system.

A communication system is a facility which facilitates communicationbetween two or more entities such as communication devices, networkentities and other nodes. A communication system may be provided by oneor more interconnect networks and the elements thereof and a pluralityof communication devices, for example user devices. One or more gatewaynodes may be provided for interconnecting various networks. For example,a gateway node can be provided between an access network and othercommunication networks. The communication may comprise, for example,communication of data for carrying communications such as voice,electronic mail (email), text message, multimedia and so on.

A communication system typically operates in accordance with a standardand/or a set of specifications and protocols which set out what thevarious elements of the system are permitted to do and how that shouldbe achieved. For example, it is typically defined if the user, or moreprecisely a user device, is provided with a circuit switched bearer or apacket switched bearer, or both. Also, the manner user communicationdevices can access a communication system is typically defined, as itthe manner in which communications should be implemented between theuser device and various elements of the communication system. Thefunctions and responsibilities of various entities are also typicallydefined by communication protocols. Various functions and features aretypically, although not necessarily, arranged in a hierarchical orlayered structure, so called protocol stack, wherein the higher levellayers can influence the operation of the lower level functions.

A user may communicate via a communication system and access variousapplications by means of an appropriate communication device. The usercommunication devices are often referred to as user equipment (UE). Anappropriate access system allows the communication device to communicatevia the communication system. An access to the communications system maybe provided by means of a fixed line or wireless communicationinterface, or a combination of these. Examples of wireless systemsinclude cellular networks, various wireless local area networks (WLANs),wireless personal area networks (WPANs), satellite based communicationsystems and various combinations of these.

In wireless systems a network entity such as a base station provides anaccess node for communication devices. It is noted that in certainsystems a base station is called ‘Node B’. Typically the operation of abase station node and other apparatus of an access system required forthe communication is controlled by an appropriate control entity. Thecontrol entity can be interconnected with other control entities of thecommunication network.

A way of enhancing the coverage and/or throughput of a base station isto use at least one relaying node between the base station and thedestined node, for example a destined user device. Relay techniques havebeen intensively studied, for example, in the context of third andfourth generation communication systems, known in shorthand as 3G/B3G/4Gnetworks. By employing relaying techniques on fixed and mobile relaynodes (RN), the coverage and the throughput of the networks can beincreased. Mobile user communication devices can be used as mobilerelays to further improve the performance of the networks. In thecurrent cellular network systems a large amount of suitable mobile relaynodes can exist at the same time in a cell. Time division duplex (TDD)mode is often used for relaying communications to the destinationdevice, but this is not the only option.

A scheme known as Inducing Multi-user Diversity Relaying (IMDR) has beenproposed for handling the various aspects of relaying by the relay nodesin a cell. The IMDR uses a broadcast feature of a wireless channel toinduce multi-user diversity through a two-phase process. In the firstphase, known as the feeding phase, data-units are broadcasted by a basestation (BS) with its maximum bit-rate and transmit power. It is assumedthat at least some user devices in the cell coverage area are likely toreceive these data-units. These user devices can then act as mobilerelays in the second phase, known as the delivery phase. All userdevices which receive a data-unit in the feeding phase act as a relay inthe delivery phase. In some disclosures a reference is also made to athree-stage scheme, where a channel quality indicator (CQI) probingphase is provided between the feeding phase and the delivery phase.

It is possible that the destined user device also receives the datadirectly from the base station. In such a situation the destined userdevice can send back a positive acknowledgement to the base station. Thebase station can now determine that the data can be received directly bythe destined node without any intermediate i.e. relay nodes. The basestation can then broadcast a release command to all relay nodes toinstruct the relay nodes to release the relay process. If no positiveacknowledgement signalling is received from the destined node, forexample during the CQI probing phase, the base station does nothing butis kept inactive. At this stage the relay nodes need to find out thedestined node and measure the channel to the destined node. Once thedestined node is detected, a hand-shaking can occur between each of therelay nodes and the destined node. Thus, in the IMDR each relay nodecontinuously tracks the quality of the wireless link to the neighbouringusers and their identity. In this stage, the relay nodes and thedestined node each broadcast signals, and complex hand-shaking protocolsare set-up between them to assist in establishing the potentialcooperative transmission to the destined node.

The relaying nodes/relaying user devices need to wait until theoccurrence of a “good channel” to transmit the data-units into thedestination. The transmission occurs with the maximum bit-rate.Transmitting to multiple relay nodes in the first phase inducesmulti-user diversity into the system that can be exploited in thesecond-phase, hence the name Inducing Multi-user Diversity Relaying(IMDR).

As mentioned, in the delivery phase the base station is kept inactive.Only transmissions that are allowed are from the relay nodes to thedestined node. Upon successful transmission, the destined node sends apositive acknowledgement to the base station. Consequently, the basestation broadcasts a release signal where after the relay nodes canrelease that data-unit. If the base station does not receive anacknowledgement that corresponds to a given data-unit in a predefinedtime interval, that data-unit is considered lost and a release signal isbroadcasted. That lost data-unit may be considered for retransmissionlater on.

Although the above proposed scheme has proven workable and improved thecoverage and efficiency, it also introduces certain disadvantages intothe system. In particular, it introduces a signalling overhead betweenthe mobile relay nodes. Thus it would be desired to have a scheme whereany excessive signalling overhead could be avoided while the throughputand coverage of a base station can be increased by means of relay nodes.In addition, a scheme that is suitable for a fixed relay stationscenario or a scenario when only a few relay nodes are available mightalso be desired in certain applications.

The herein described embodiments aim to address one or several of theabove shortcomings.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a communication node for acommunication system, comprising a transmitter for transmittinginformation relating to a radio resource that is allocated to a destinednode, a receiver for receiving communications on the allocated radioresource from the destined node, and a controller configured to allocateradio resources and to control, based on communications on the allocatedresource from the destined node, data relaying process between the datacommunication node and the destined node.

In accordance with another embodiment there is provided a relay node forcommunicating system, comprising a receiver configured to receiveinformation of a radio resource allocated to a destined node andcommunications on the allocated radio resource, a transmitter configuredto communicate with other nodes, and a controller configured to monitorfor communications on the allocated resource by the destined node and tocontrol relaying of data, between the originating node and the destinednode based on the monitoring.

In accordance with another embodiment there is provided a method forcommunicating data in a wireless communication system enabling relayingof data between an originating node and a destined node, the methodcomprising providing information of a radio resource allocated to thedestined node, monitoring for communications on the allocated resourcefrom the destined node, and controlling relaying of data between theoriginating node and the destined node based on the monitoring.

An embodiment provides a computer program comprising program code meansadapted to perform the method.

An embodiment provides a controller for a communications device,configured to monitor for communications on a radio resource that hasbeen allocated to a destined node and to control relaying of databetween an originating node and the destined node based on themonitoring.

In accordance with a more specific embodiment a controller is configuredto process a pilot signal that is obtained from a broadcasting by adestined node on the allocated radio resource.

A communication node can be configured to communicate information aboutthe allocated radio resource to at least one relay node. Information ofat least one of a destined node identity and a quality of service (QoS)requirement may also be communicated. The information may be provided bybroadcasting.

A lesser than available number of relay nodes may be instructed to relaydata to a destined node. Scheduling instructions may be provided torelay nodes for communication with a destined node.

At least one decision regarding relaying of data to a destined node maybe made based on communication by the destined node on the allocatedradio resource before delivery of data to at least one relay node.

An appropriate manner of communication with a destined node may bedetermined based on communication on the allocated radio resource and/orfeedback information from at least one relay node.

A radio subband resource may be allocated for sole use by a destinednode while communications on other subbands are allowed.

A relay node controller may be configured to determine informationrelating to a parameter indicative of the quality of a radio channelbetween the relay node and a destined node and to compare the parameterwith a threshold. The controller may determine a value of the parameterbased on the communications on the allocated resource. The controllermay be configured to determine, based on communications on the allocatedresource, if the relay node is capable of taking part in relaying ofdata to the destined node, and/or if the relay node needs to take partin relaying data between to the destined node, and/or if the relay nodeshall refrain from relaying of data to the destined node. The controllermay determine, based on an acknowledgement message by the destined node,that relaying of data is not needed.

For a better understanding of the present invention and how the same maybe carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of exampleonly to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic presentation of a communication system whereinthe invention may be embodied;

FIG. 2 shows a timing chart for operation in accordance with anembodiment;

FIGS. 3 to 8 show schematically the progress of relaying data to adestined node in accordance with an embodiment; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 show flowcharts in accordance with certain embodiments.

Before explaining in detail a few exemplifying embodiments, a briefexplanation of certain general principles of wirelessly communicatingdata is given with reference to FIG. 1.

A communication device, for example a user device, can be used foraccessing various services and/or applications provided via acommunications system. In wireless or mobile systems the access istypically provided via an access interface between a user device 1, 2and an appropriate wireless access system. A user device can typicallyaccess wirelessly a communication system via at least one base station 3or similar wireless transmitter and/or receiver node. Non-limitingexamples of access nodes are a base station of a cellular system and abase station of a wireless local area network (WLAN). Each user devicemay have one or more radio channels open at the same time and may beconnected to more than one base station.

The user devices 1 and 2 may also communicate directly with each other.The communication may be arranged in various manners based on anyappropriate radio technology. For example, radio channels similar tothose used for communication between a base station and a user device orappropriate short range links, for example those based on the Bluetooth™protocol, may be used for communication between the user devices.

The base station 3 can be connected to a data network via appropriategateway arrangement comprising one or more appropriate gateway nodes,for example a packet data gateway and/or an access gateway. A basestation is typically controlled by at least one appropriate controllerentity, generally denoted by 5 in FIG. 1. The controller entity 5 can beprovided for managing of the overall operation of the base stationand/or communications via the base station. The controller entity istypically provided with memory capacity and at least one data processor.Various functional entities may be provided in the controller by meansof the data processing capability thereof. The functional entitiesprovided in the base station controller may provide functions relatingto radio resource control, access control, packet data context control,relay control and so forth.

The user device 1, 2 can be used for various tasks such as making andreceiving phone calls, for receiving and sending data from and to a datanetwork and for experiencing, for example, multimedia or other content.For example, a user device may access applications provided via a datanetwork, such as applications that are provided based on the InternetProtocol (IP) or any other appropriate protocol. An appropriate mobileuser device may be provided by any device capable of at least sending orreceiving radio signals. Non-limiting examples include a mobile station(MS), a portable computer provided with a wireless interface card orother wireless interface facility, personal data assistant (PDA)provided with wireless communication capabilities, or any combinationsof these or the like.

Although not shown for clarity, a user device is typically provided withat least one data processing entity and at least one memory for use intasks it is designed to perform. The data processing and storageentities can be provided on an appropriate circuit board and/or inchipsets.

In addition to directly communicating with the base station, a userdevice 1 can communicate with one or more relaying user devices, orrelaying nodes 2. In the herein described embodiments data can berelayed from an originating node, for example the base station (BS) 3 ofFIG. 1, to a destined node, for example the user communication device 1of FIG. 1, via at least one relay node, for example any of thecommunication devices 2 of FIG. 1.

The relaying can be provided only if this is determined appropriatebased on signalling received from the destined node. In order to be ableto make decisions in this regard relatively early in the relayingprocess and to enable the destined user device to be engaged in thedecision making and communication link set-up procedure, the destinedcommunication device 1 is allocated a reserved radio resource. The radioresource allocation can be provided by the base station in anyappropriate manner, depending on the radio technology used by thedestined node. The destined node can use the allocated radio resourcefor broadcasting pilot signals, or for other purposes such ascommunications relating to random access. The pilot signals can bereceived and utilised by the base station and/or the relay nodes forexample in manners described in detail below.

Information regarding the allocation and information derivable from thepilot signals or other signals on the allocated radio resource can beutilised by the base station node and also by the other nodes indeciding how to handle the relaying process. For example, the relaynodes 2 can use the signals to determine relatively early whether thereis a need to take part or even if the particular relay node can takepart in relaying of data between the destined node 1 and the basestation 3. A relay node 2 can determine from a pilot signal, inter alia,the quality of the radio channel between it and the destined node. Thebase station can also determine based on the signal an appropriatemanner of communication with the destined node, for example if relayingis needed or if the data shall be communicated directly to the destinednode.

The possibility of sending signals on a reserved radio resource enablesthe destined node 1 to be engaged in and/or influence procedures such asthe decision making and/or setting up the network of relayingcommunication devices 2 between itself and the base station 3. This maysimplify handshaking and measurement operations that are used in settingup a relaying path for delivering data between a base station and a usercommunication device. In the embodiments multi-user diversity can beachieved in a relatively simple manner by reserving opportunities forthe destined node to send signals on a known resource.

An example for a time-span for the scheme of FIGS. 1 and 3 to 8 isillustrated in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, a channel quality indicator(CQI) probing step precedes a feeding step and a delivery step. Aprocedure according to this embodiment is now explained in greaterdetail in the following with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

In FIG. 1 the base station 3 broadcasts, during time interval T1 of FIG.2, information 4 relating to a destined user device 1 such as a destineduser equipment identity (UE ID), quality of service (QoS) requirementand so on. In addition, information regarding the radio resourcereserved for the destined user device is also broadcast in information4. The reserved resource can be, for example, a reserved time-frequencyradio resource of a time division duplex (TDD) system.

If the destined user device 1 is within the coverage area of the basestation 3, the broadcasted control signalling will reach also thedestined user device 1. Upon receipt of the broadcast information 4 thedestined user device 1 can in turn broadcast its pilots on the reservedradio resource, as denoted by reference 6 in FIG. 3. This can occurduring the CQI probing phase preceding a data feeding phase.

At this stage the relay nodes 2 can also probe their communicationchannels to the destined user device 1 to assess the quality andpossibly other characteristics of the channels.

It is noted that in this stage the base station 3 does not need to beinactive as would be the case in the conventional IMDR relaying schemedescribed above. Instead, the base station 3 needs only to be inactive,i.e. not send anything, on the reserved radio resource assigned to thedestined user device 1. For example, if orthogonal frequency divisionmultiple access (OFDMA) is used, the base station only needs to avoidusing the dedicated subcarriers assigned to the destined node for CQIprobing. Because only 1 sub-band typically needs to be reserved for thedestined user device 1, the other n−1 sub-bands can be used for otherpurposes and thus the spectrum efficiency is enhanced. Moreover, thereis no need at this stage for any complex hand-shaking protocols betweenthe relay nodes 2 and the destined node 1.

The process enters then stage T2, and the feeding phase. The basestation 3 may have received a pilot 6 from the destined user deviceduring the CQI probing phase. If so, the controller 5 of the basestation 3 can determine that data can be communicated directly to theuser device 1, rather than by relaying. In response to thisdetermination the base station 3 can broadcast a release announcement(e.g. a D-REL message) 7 to all relay nodes 2, see FIG. 4. The relaynodes can then release the relay process.

If the base station controller 5 determines that relaying is needed forthe destined user device 1, the base station 3 can broadcast the dataintended for the destined user device 1 to the relay nodes 2, as shownin FIG. 5. The determination may be based on the realisation that nopilot or other signalling was received from the destine device 1 on thereserved resource, or that the received signalling was too weak orotherwise of poor quality, or based on some other criteria.

The broadcasting from the base station 3 may occur with the maximumbit-rate and maximum transmit power. It is noted that since the relaynodes 2 are aware of the channel information associated with thedestined node 1, the relay nodes who cannot offer relaying to thedestined node can be made inactive in this specific relaying process.Since all relay nodes can have been made aware already at this stagewhether they can offer relay or not, only those relay nodes that havedetermined that they can act as a relay node buffer and/or decode thereceived data. The other relay nodes can ignore the broadcasting, andthus reduce the overhead. That is, the arrangement can be such that onlythose relay nodes that are capable of satisfactorily communicating withthe destined node 1 receive and process the data from the base station,while any relay nodes that have determined themselves as being incapablefor such communication simply ignore the relaying process.

According to an alternative, if a relaying node 2 finds that it issuitable for acting as a relay for the destined node 1, for example byevaluating the channel from the base station 3 and the channel to thedestined node, it can report itself to the base station 3 and requestfor more sophisticated scheduling instructions. This may occur e.g.during phase T2 of FIG. 2. Relay nodes who find their channel to beworse than a predetermined threshold can remain silent. Alternatively,those relay nodes who determine themselves incapable report this to thebase station.

Consequently in the feeding phase the base station 3 can then send datato only to selected relay nodes by dedicated channels, rather thanthrough a broadcasting channel. This may assist in increasing capacityin the cell, since a broadcasting channel normally cannot support largeamounts of dedicated data for a specific destine node, the dedicatedchannels presenting less limitation in this regard. Moreover, schedulingand use of dedicated channels enables a base station controller to moreeasily and centrally manage advanced cooperative relaying schemes amongthe selected relay nodes. Also, the overhead may be reduced because notall available nodes signal the same data to the destined node. Also, itis possible to control the number of relay nodes, for example bychanging the threshold and/or by control instructions from the basestation instructing only a selected number of relay nodes to relay thedata.

Embodiment enabling base station to control the relaying may beespecially useful for a scenario where only a relatively small number ofrelay nodes exists near the destined user device or for a fixed relaynode scenario. This may be so in particular because it is possible thatnone of the relay nodes can act as a relay for the destined node. If thebase station can receive feedback from candidate relay nodes, the basestation can decide whether it needs to broadcast the data to thedestined node, if relaying can be used, or if some other action needs tobe taken. Thus any useless feeding/broadcasting can be avoided.

During time period T3 of FIG. 2 data 8 is transmitted i.e. deliveredfrom the base station 3 to the relay nodes 2. The destined node 1 mayalso receive the data from this transmission. If the destined node 1successfully receives the data from this transmission, it can send anacknowledgement (e.g. an R-ACK message) 9 to the base station, as shownin FIG. 6. The base station 3 can then determine that relaying is notrequired and in response to this determination broadcast a releaseindication (e.g. a D-REL) 10 to the relay nodes 2. Upon receipt of therelease indication, the relay nodes can release the relay process.

According to an embodiment, if the relay nodes 2 hear the R-ACKs orother positive acknowledgements 9 send by the destined node 1, the relaynodes may be allowed to release the relaying process immediately withouta need to wait for instructions from the base station 3.

If a relay node does not receive within a predetermined period anyindication that the relay process can be released, establishment ofhand-shaking connections between the relay node and the destined nodefollows. Thus each relay node can then, without any furtherinstructions, start to prepare for relaying of data to the destinednode.

The delivery phase from the capable relay nodes 2 to the destined node 1is shown in FIG. 7. The base station 3 can be kept inactive at thisstage, and thus transmissions from the relay nodes 2 to the finaldestined node or destined user device 1 can be the only activetransmissions at this time. In some embodiments the base station and/orother nodes may be allowed to communicate in other subchannels than theones used for communication towards the destined node.

In accordance with an embodiment it is monitored if at least one relaynode 2 is able to achieve a transmission bit-rate that is greater thanor at least equal to a predetermined system parameter R₀ over thechannel to the destined node where after that at least one relay node isused for transmitting the data-units to the destined node. The decisionmaking can thus be distributed amongst the relay nodes such that eachrelay node makes a decision if it can transmit by checking if it canmeet a predetermined quality threshold.

According to an embodiment the base station controller 5 centrallydecides which relay nodes 2 shall transmit the data towards the destinednode 1. The decision can be made based on reports from the relaying userdevices or some other criteria.

Medium access control (MAC) used for access control can be either acontention-based method or a base station coordinated non-contentionbased method.

In period T4 of FIG. 2, upon a successful transmission, the destineduser device 1 sends an acknowledgement signal (e.g. R-ACK) 11 to thebase station 3, as shown in FIG. 8. The acknowledgement may becommunicated either directly from the destined node 1 or via any of therelay nodes. Consequently, the base station 3 broadcasts a releaseindication (e.g. D-REL) signal 12. The relay nodes 2 then release theparticular data-unit.

If the relay nodes can hear the acknowledgement 11 sent from thedestined user device 1, they can be allowed to release the relayingprocess directly without waiting for instructions from the base station3. If the base station 3 does not receive a positive acknowledgementfrom the destined node 1 that corresponds to a given data-unit in apredefined time interval, that data-unit is considered as being lost. Arelease signal can then be broadcasted by the base station. Thatdata-unit may be considered for retransmission later.

An example of operation in an originating node is described below withreference to the flowchart of FIG. 9. At step 100 a radio resource isallocated for a destined node. The allocation may be provided by theoriginating or sending node, for example a base station or any othernode that has data to be send to another node in a communication system.Information about the allocation may then be appropriately communicatedto at least the destined node, and possibly also to any possible relaynode. The originating node, and possibly other nodes in the system, thenmonitor at 102 for signalling by the destined node on the allocatedradio resource. A pilot or other signal from the destined node may bedetected at 104. Upon detection it is determined at 106 if relaying isto be used for communication of data to the destined node. For example,it can be determined if the quality of the signal is good enough or thetraffic conditions in the communication system are otherwise such thatit is more appropriate to sent data directly to the destined node. Ifrelaying is selected at 108, data is delivered to at least one relaynode for communication to the destined node at 110. If it is decidedthat relaying is not appropriate, another procedure may follow, forexample data is communicated to the destined node without relaying at112.

An example of operation in a relay node is described below withreference to the flowchart of FIG. 10. In this embodiment informationrelating to a radio resource allocated for a destined node is receivedby a relay node at 200. The relay node then monitors for signalling onthe allocated radio resource by the destined node at 202. A pilot orother signal from the destined node may be detected at 204. The relaynode may then determine at 206 a value of at least one channel parameterbased on the signal. For example, a channel quality indicator may bedetermined at this stage. A comparison of the value to a threshold canbe made at 208. If the value is less than the predetermined threshold, adecision is made at 210 not to participate in relaying of data to thedestined node, see 214. The parameter and/or the threshold may be basedon a quality of service (QoS) requirement information received from theoriginating node.

If the value equals to or exceeds the threshold, it is determined at 212if there is any indication that the relay node shall not be involved inrelay of data to the destination node. If such an indication exists, forexample a release relay process message is received from the originatingnode, a decision is made not to participate in relaying of data to thedestined node, and the process enters state 214. If no such indicationis detected, a data communication channel is set-up with the destinednode at 216.

The embodiments may provide various advantages. For example, during achannel quality probing phase complex probing and handshaking protocolsamong the relay nodes may be avoided. This may lead to use of less timeslots/bits for the handshaking operations. Savings in power consumptionand reduced interference may also be obtained. Reduction in interferencemay make the quality probing more accurate. It is possible to arrangethe feeding phase such that only capable relay nodes receive a givendata-unit from a base station. The other relay nodes can ignore thebroadcasting. In the quality probing phase, the base station does notneed to be inactive on all radio resources. For example, if orthogonalfrequency division multiplexing access (OFDMA) where N subcarriers areprovided is used for the radio access, the base station may only need toavoid using the dedicated subcarriers assigned to the destined userdevice for quality probing. The destined node can be provided with atleast have two opportunities to send a positive acknowledgement to thebase station during the relaying process thus enabling early terminationof the relaying process, if this is appropriate.

The required data processing functions and/or protocol entities may beprovided by means of one or more data processors. Appropriate dataprocessing may be provided in a processing unit provided in associationwith the base station and/or any of the relay and destine nodes. Thedata processing may be distributed across several data processingmodules. The above described functions may be provided by separateprocessors or by an integrated processor. An appropriately adaptedcomputer program code product or products may be used for implementingthe embodiments, when loaded on an appropriate processor, for example ina processor associated with the base station 3 or any of thecommunications devices 1 and 2. The program code means may, for example,provide timers, perform generation, measurement, monitoring and/orinterpretation of information signalled between the various entities andcontrol decision making and/or triggering of various operations. Theprogram code product for providing the operation may be stored on andprovided by means of a carrier medium such as a carrier disc, card ortape. A possibility is to download the program code product to themobile device via a data network.

It is noted that whilst embodiments have been described in relation torelay and destined nodes such as user devices, for example mobile userequipment and originating nodes such as base stations, embodiments ofthe present invention are applicable to any other suitable type of nodessuitable for communication in a system employing relay nodes forcommunication of data between two nodes.

It is also noted that although certain embodiments were described aboveby way of example with reference to certain exemplifying architecturesfor wireless networks, technologies and standards, embodiments may beapplied to any other suitable forms of communication systems than thoseillustrated and described herein.

It is also noted herein that while the above describes exemplifyingembodiments of the invention, there are several variations andmodifications which may be made to the disclosed solution withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

1. A communication node for a communication system, comprising: atransmitter for transmitting information relating to a radio resourcethat is allocated to a destined node; a receiver for receivingcommunications on the allocated radio resource from the destined node;and a controller configured to allocate radio resources and to control,based on communications on the allocated resource from the destinednode, a data relaying process between the communication node and thedestined node.
 2. A communication node as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe controller is configured to process a pilot obtained from abroadcasting by the destined node on the allocated radio resource.
 3. Acommunication node as claimed in claim 1, configured to communicateinformation about the allocated radio resource to at least one relaynode.
 4. A communication node as claimed in claim 3, further configuredto communicate information of at least one of a destined node identityand a quality of service (QoS) requirement to the at least one relaynode.
 5. A communication node as claimed in claim 1, configured toprovide the information by broadcasting the information.
 6. Acommunication node as claimed in claim 1, configured to instruct alesser than available number of relay nodes to relay data to thedestined node.
 7. A communication node as claimed in claim 1, configuredto send scheduling instructions to relay nodes for communication withthe destined node.
 8. A communication node as claimed in claim 1,configured to make at least one decision regarding relaying of data tothe destined node based on communication by the destined node on theallocated radio resource before delivery of data to at least one relaynode.
 9. A communication node as claimed in claim 1, configured todetermine, based on at least one of communication on the allocated radioresource and feedback information from at least one relay node, anappropriate manner of communication with the destined node.
 10. Acommunication node as claimed in claim 9, configured to determine ifdata is communicated on a broadcast channel or a dedicated channel. 11.A communication node as claimed in claim 1, configured to broadcast arelease relay process indication.
 12. A communication node as claimed inclaim 1, configured to allocate a radio subband resource for sole use bythe destined node and to communicate on other subbands.
 13. Acommunication node as claimed in claim 1, comprising a base station. 14.A relay node for a communicating system, comprising: a receiverconfigured to receive information of a radio resource allocated to adestined node and communications on the allocated radio resource; atransmitter configured to communicate with other nodes; a controllerconfigured to monitor for communications on the allocated resource bythe destined node and to control relaying of data between theoriginating node and the destined node based on the monitoring.
 15. Arelay node as claimed in claim 14, wherein the controller is configuredto determine information relating to a parameter indicative of thequality of the radio channel between the relay node and the destinednode and to compare the parameter with a threshold.
 16. A relay node asclaimed in claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to determine avalue of the parameter based on the communications on the allocatedresource.
 17. A relay node as claimed in claim 14, wherein thecontroller is configured to determine, based on communications on theallocated resource, at least one of: if the relay node is capable oftaking part in relaying of data to the destined node; if the relay nodeneeds to take part in relaying data between to the destined node; and ifthe relay node shall refrain from relaying of data to the destined node.18. A relay node as claimed in claim 14, wherein the controller isconfigured to determine, based on an acknowledgement message by thedestined node, that relaying of data is not needed.
 19. A relay node asclaimed in claim 14, comprising a mobile user device.
 20. A method forcommunicating data in a wireless communication system enabling relayingof data between an originating node and a destined node, comprising:providing information of a radio resource allocated to the destinednode; monitoring for communications on the allocated resource from thedestined node; and controlling relaying of data between the originatingnode and the destined node based on the monitoring.
 21. A method asclaimed in claim 20, wherein the communications comprise broadcasting bythe destined node on the allocated radio resource.
 22. A method asclaimed in claim 20, wherein the communications on the allocatedresource comprise communication of a pilot signal.
 23. A method asclaimed in claim 20, comprising communicating information about thereserved radio resource to at least one relay node.
 24. A method asclaimed in claim 23, further comprising communication of information ofat least one of a destined node identity and a quality of service (QoS)requirement.
 25. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the providingof information comprises broadcasting the information.
 26. A method asclaimed in claim 20, comprising determining, at a relay node, based oncommunications on the allocated resource, at least one of: if the relaynode is capable of taking part in relaying of data between theoriginating node and the destined node; if the relay node needs to takepart in relaying data between the originating node and the destinednode; and if the relay node shall refrain from relaying of data betweenthe originating node and the destined node.
 27. A method as claimed inclaim 20, comprising determining the quality of a radio channel betweena relay node and the destined node based on the communications on theallocated resource.
 28. A method as claimed in claim 27, comprisingdetermining if achievable transmission bit-rate equals to or is greaterthan a threshold.
 29. A method as claimed in claim 20, comprisinginstructing a lesser number of relay nodes than is available to relaydata to the destined node.
 30. A method as claimed in claim 20,comprising providing scheduling instructions by the originating node.31. A method as claimed in claim 20, comprising making at least onedecision regarding the relay process based on communication by thedestined node on the allocated radio resource before delivery of data toat least one relay node.
 32. A method as claimed in claim 20, comprisingdetermining, based on at least one of communication on the allocatedradio resource and feedback information from relay nodes, an appropriatemanner of communication with the destined node.
 33. A method as claimedin claim 20, comprising broadcasting from the originating node a releaserelay process indication.
 34. A method as claimed in claim 20,comprising determining at a relay node based on an acknowledgementmessage by the destined node that the relaying of data can be released.35. A method as claimed in claim 20, comprising allocating a radiosubband resource for sole use by the destined node and allowingcommunications by at least one of the other nodes on other subbands. 36.A computer program comprising program code means adapted to perform anyof steps of claim 20 when the program is run on a processor.
 37. Acomputer program as claimed in claim 36, wherein the processor is for astation of a mobile communication system.
 38. A communication systemcomprising: a communication node comprising a transmitter configured totransmit information relating to a radio resource that is allocated to adestined node; a receiver configured to receive communications on theallocated radio resource from the destined node; and a controllerconfigured to allocate radio resources and to control, based oncommunications on the allocated resource from the destined node, a datarelaying process between the communication node and the destined node,said communication system further comprising a relay node comprising areceiver configured to receive information of the radio resourceallocated to the destined node and communications on the allocated radioresource; a transmitter configured to communicate with other nodes; anda controller configured to monitor for communications on the allocatedresource by the destined node and to control relaying of data between anoriginating node and the destined node based on the monitoring.
 39. Acontroller for a communications device, configured to monitor forcommunications on a radio resource that has been allocated to a destinednode and to control relaying of data between an originating node and thedestined node based on the monitoring.
 40. A controller as claimed inclaim 39, configured to monitor for a pilot signal by the destined nodeon the allocated radio resource, to determine a value of at least onechannel characteristic based on the pilot signal, to compare the valuewith a threshold and to decide based on the comparison whether data isto be relayed to the destined node.